The Accidental Meeting That Sparked a Terror Module
Investigators have uncovered that a seemingly ordinary encounter in 2023 between Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, a cleric from Jammu and Kashmir, and Muzammil Ahmad Ganai, a doctor from Faridabad, laid the foundation for what would become a sophisticated Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror module. This chance meeting occurred when Wagay accompanied a patient to a hospital, leading to what authorities describe as an "ideological bonding" that eventually transformed into a close-knit terrorist cell.
The Key Players in the Red Fort Blast Case
The terror module, busted in November 2024, comprised four main accused individuals with medical backgrounds. Umar Nabi, who was driving the car that exploded near Delhi's historic Red Fort, worked alongside Ganai at the Faridabad Al Falah School of Medical Sciences & Research Centre. The other members included Adeel Majeed Rather, employed at a private hospital in Saharanpur, and Dr Shaheen Shahid Ansari from Lucknow, who also worked at the Faridabad medical institute.
Investigators revealed that while Nabi and Ganai both hail from the same village of Koil in Pulwama, Rather comes from Qazigund. After their initial meeting, Wagay and Ganai maintained contact even after Ganai left Kashmir to pursue employment opportunities in Haryana, while Wagay remained in Srinagar as a religious cleric.
From Posters to Bomb Blast: The Investigation Unfolds
The breakthrough in the case came unexpectedly during an investigation into Jaish-e-Mohammad posters that appeared in Kashmir during October 2024. J&K Police initiated a probe after these posters surfaced, gathering crucial clues from CCTV footage that eventually led them to two youths and subsequently to a man in Ganderbal.
This chain of evidence ultimately brought investigators to Mufti Irfan Wagay. During his questioning, authorities first learned about the Faridabad doctor's involvement, though Wagay himself apparently did not know the extent to which the group had advanced in planning a terror attack.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, Dr Shaheen Ansari provided financial support to the group and allowed Ganai to use her vehicle, which has since been recovered from Faridabad.
Motivations and Unanswered Questions
The arrested medical professionals reportedly told investigators that they were "moved by the plight" of Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir and across the world. However, they claimed they had not yet selected a specific target or date for any potential attack when the module was dismantled.
One of the accused stated they were still in the planning phase when authorities intervened, suggesting that Umar Nabi may have acted hastily out of feeling vulnerable. DNA tests have conclusively confirmed that Nabi was indeed the driver of the i20 vehicle that exploded near the Red Fort.
In a significant development, J&K police recovered a massive arms cache from a doctor's rented home in Faridabad, including 350 kg of explosives and an AK-47 rifle. Digital devices seized from the arrested doctors and their family members have been sent to Delhi for comprehensive technical analysis as the investigation continues to uncover potential forward and backward linkages in the terror network.
